Nuggets' Kenneth Faried: Comes off bench vs. Raptors

Faried came off the bench in the Nuggets' preseason opener Monday against the Raptors, producing five points (2-5 FG, 1-4 FT), five rebounds and one steal in 20 minutes.

Analysis:

The general belief heading into camp was that Faried would start at power forward this season, but coach Mike Malone opted to instead go with Jusuf Nurkic alongside Nikola Jokic on Monday. It's unclear if the decision means anything long term, but at the very least, it appears Malone is entertaining the thought of using Faried in more of an energy role off the bench, which may be best suited for his skill set.